Utah should exercise caution before any expansion of the “Utah Fits All Scholarship.”
In 2023, House Bill 215 established the Utah Fits All Scholarship, a voucher program which makes school choice “scholarships” of $8,000 per student available. These scholarships are public tax dollars and can be used by parents to support homeschooling or private and religious school education.
Proponents see vouchers as an opportunity to enhance school choice, improve competition, and give parents more control. Critics worry about the bill’s absence of accountability and transparency safeguards, particularly when it comes to the use of taxpayer dollars and the education of our children. The scholarships haven’t gone into effect yet, and before any expansion is considered, Utah should ensure that this program results in better outcomes for students.
Many argue that public funds should not be sent to private schools. Certainly, if Utah adopts such a practice in limited form, state policy must ensure that funds are used responsibly and with clear accountability measures in place.
Lack of accountability? Many in the education community worry that the Utah Fits All program lacks the essential accountability mechanisms usually inherent in initiatives funded with public money. Unlike public schools, Under HB 215 private institutions and homeschooling programs are not subject to state oversight, end-of-year testing, or reporting student achievement outcomes.
Lack of transparency? The early results from other states raise concerns – budgetary shortfalls, layoffs, school closures, declining student outcomes and fraud. The public benefits from proper safeguards and financial transparency which Utah needs to build in as this program matures.
Utah has entered into a bold new experiment for education. The legislature should carefully watch how new Utah Fits All Scholarships roll out and before considering expansion or modification.
